Brian Matthews

‘I immediately said no thank you to Liverpool, not because I'm a Spurs supporter, but I wouldn't tread on young boys' dreams’

It's a Wednesday afternoon when Brian Matthews steers his car into the Meath Chronicle carpark. It's a few days after Christmas Day and a few days before New Year's Day; a time when the past and the future blend to create a kind of winter limbo.

He shows up a few minutes early for the pre-arranged interview, walks from his car to the the front office where we sit down (face masks on and socially distanced) to talk about his life in football and more besides.

"I'm chuffed to have got this," he says at the start of the conversation pointing to a large, gold-tinted, heavy medal he has brought with him in a hefty, handsome, red box.

The medal was presented to this father of three, grandfather of seven, towards the end of 2021 by the Federation of Irish Sports Volunteers. It is a tangible recognition of the tremendous work he has done in creating an environment where young people can play soccer and fulfil their potential in the sport.

Matthews is a founder and driving force behind Balrath FC, a club that is very much part of the community in the Kentstown area. It's a club that caters for youngsters of all ages and abilities.

Founded in 2010 by Matthews and Gerry O'Brien (no longer involved) Balrath FC now has over 300 players. These days Brian is as much involved as he ever was - and he appears to love every minute. He says he's delighted the way the club has grown. He modestly adds the credit belongs to the volunteers, the parents, the coaches, not him. "The award is for them," he says.

The fact that he walks from his car to the front door of the Meath Chronicle may not appear all that noteworthy at first. After all, it's a very short walk, 10 metres perhaps, but in the context of Brian's life it is significent.

There was a time when such a short journey was only made by him with the greatest of efforts. A time when an unaided walk of 10 metres represented a vast distance; as daunting as a trek across the Rocky Mountains.

Now 68 Brian suffered a heart attack when he was 53. It arrived completely out of left field. No warning. His family was brought to his bedside to say their goodbyes. He received the last rites. It was a long road back but he recovered. Subsequently, he has had "other episodes" when his chest was filled with an excruciating pain. More visits to hospital followed. Over the years he has had six stents put in.

Then last July he had a stroke, unrelated to his heart issues. He was rushed to Navan Hospital, later to the Mater. Again the prognosis wasn't good. He couldn't walk but step by step he gradually got going again, fired up by a fierce determination and the support of family, friends and others.

"When I was out of action I got loads of messages from all the young kids in the (Balrath FC) academy. 'Get well soon' they said in their messages. That would melt the coldest, hardest of hearts. That kept me going," he adds, the emotion clear in his voice.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS

From as far back as he can remember soccer has played a major part in Brian Matthews' life. He is a true blue Spurs fan. Has been ever since his father showed him a photograph in the early 1960s.

"My father was an Arsenal fan but for my seventh birthday he gave me a black and white poster of the great Spurs team that won the double. I always remember him telling me how he was an Arsenal man but Spurs are after winning the double and they are captained by an Irishman Danny Blanchflower, a 32-country man. My father said we should be proud of that. I looked at the picture and I've followed Spurs ever since."

From the Finglas East area Brian Matthews, who is one of a large family, played football for various teams including Home Farm. He moved into coaching, and was manager of teams representing the Dublin District Schoolboys' League that took part in the Kennedy Cup. Silverware was won by the DDSL boys, something Brian is rightly proud of. Among his promising young guns was Kenny Cunningham who went on to captain Ireland.

One day in 1986 Brian was called to a meeting by Fran Ray, a top DDSL official. "Fran said to me he had received a letter from Liverpool FC who were looking for a scout in Ireland. Would I be interested? I immediately said no thank you' to Liverpool not because I'm a Spurs supporter but I wouldn't thread on young boys' dreams.

"Back then scouts had to send over a quota of boys, 10 maybe 12, every year to the clubs to prove they were watching games.

"I wasn't going to knock on somebody's door and raise their expectations and the whole family. Expectations that their child, whose dream is to play at the top level, is going to make it, " he adds. "Back then lots of boys went over and the majority, as we all know, wouldn't make it. I didn't want to be any part of that."

KENTSTOWN

Employed by Aer Lingus, Brian and his wife Carol moved to Kentstown in 2002, attracted by the rural quaintness of the place. With their sons Keith, Darren and daughter Karen growing up fast it seemed a right move. Life was good for the Matthews clan. Then in 2006 the heart attack struck.

"I had organised a friendly five-a-side match as part of the local community day on Kentstown Rovers' senior pitch. I was playing in the five-a-side. It was a fun day, family day. I felt a heaviness on my chest. To be honest it was as if an elephant sat on my chest. An ambulance was called and I was brought to Navan.

"The consultant in Navan Hospital, who was also a cardiologist came out and told the family there was no hope for me. They called for all my family from Finglas, including my mother, brothers, sisters to come and say their goodbyes to me. They were allowed in, two by two. Next thing I noticed the priest came in to give me the last rites.

Balrath players celebrate.

"I was full of drugs, semi-conscious, and wondering why are all these people coming into see me, sure, I'm going home soon. I wasn't very coherent but I did notice the priest put on the purple stole and the bottles of holy water. My wife happened to be in with me at the time and I said I'll pretend I don't notice all this and maybe she won't notice either.

"The consultant said to my family if I had private health insurance she could sanction an ambulance up to the Mater but he's not going last the journey. Obviously I did last the journey. At the Mater Private, Dr Jim O'Neill the cardiologist opened me up, that saved my life. It took me 18 months to get over it. I took me nearly three months to walk, a 10-minute walk down to the local school and back but I gradually got there."

He returned to Aer Lingus albeit at reduced hours and no shift work included. He also switched from the transport sector to customer service.

Then in 2010 he embarked on what has become a major project in his life - the business of running and developing Balrath FC. It's clear it's a real labour of love. He outlines how the club members were "like nomads in the desert" without a home. Over the years various local venues had been utilised including Knockharley Cricket Club.

"Knockharley Landfill came to our aide and gave us a piece of land and Balrath Park was born. It was officially opened by Richard Dunne during the Festival of Football in 2019. With the help of Knockharley Landfill, the FAI and Meath Co Council, we now have 11-a-side and nine-a-side pitches with dressingrooms and a warm-up area. That's a big, big plus for us." Other facilities are utilised by the club such as the full-sized 4G astro pitch in the Kentstown village complex.

For Brian Matthews it's all about helping the kids. A major development at Balrath, and one he is rightly proud of, is the setting up of teams for youngsters with special needs. "Everyone is welcome," he adds. "Everyone."

The interview ends and the time comes for him to walk back out to his car. He does so comfortably. Such a short walk wasn't always so easy for this dedicated soccer man who has been through so much.